Thousands of Morsi supporters took to the streets nationwide on Friday, clashing with security forces amid reports of gunfire in central Cairo, Al Arabiya television reported.

Four people were shot dead in clashes in the southern city of Assuit, Reuters cited medical and health sources as saying. It was not clear which side they were on. Medical sources in Cairo said a Brotherhood supporter had died from a gunshot wound in clashes in the capital.

Soldiers and policemen boosted their presence around Rabaa al-Adaweya mosque, the larger of the Brotherhood’s two former Cairo sit-ins, as the march approached, Reuters reported the state news agency as saying.

A Reuters witness said an Egyptian army vehicle fired live rounds in the direction of Brotherhood supporters who had been pushed away from Cairo's Tahrir Square by security forces.

Mahmoud Abde Erradi, a journalist from Youm7 newspaper, told Al Arabiya from Cairo that the clashes erupted when Brotherhood members attempted to storm the square.

He denied security forces have opened fire on protesters, saying that tear gas was used to disperse protesters who attacked public properties.